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Dunaden draws wide for Melbourne Cup

Dunaden will have to overcome a big weight and wide draw to win back-to-back Melbourne Cups.

Getty Images: Vince Caligiuri

Topweight Dunaden will have to overcome a wide draw to win the $6.2 million Melbourne Cup (3,200m) at Flemington on Tuesday.

Dunaden, who the the race last year, drew barrier 16 after the 24-horse field for the Cup was settled on Saturday evening.

The 2010 winner Americain remains the favourite at $5.50 after drawing a satisfactory barrier of 12 for new jockey Damien Oliver.

The Luca Cumani-trained Mount Athos drew well in barrier eight and has firmed into second favouritism at $7.50 in front of Dunaden at $8.

2012 Melbourne Cup run Tuesday 3pm (AEDT)

No.

Horse

Barrier

Weight

1

DUNADEN (FR)

16

59kg

2

AMERICAIN (USA)

12

58kg

3

JAKKALBERRY (IRE)

19

55.5kg

4

RED CADEAUX (GB)

18

55.5kg

5

WINCHESTER (USA)

22

55.5kg

6

VOILA ICI (IRE)

13

55kg

7

CAVALRYMAN (GB)

6

54kg

8

MOUNT ATHOS (IRE)

8

54kg

9

SANAGAS (GER)

4

54kg

10

ETHIOPIA

14

53.5kg

11

FIORENTE (IRE)

2

53.5kg

12

GALILEO'S CHOICE (IRE)

11

53.5kg

13

GLENCADAM GOLD (IRE)

7

53.5kg

14

GREEN MOON (IRE)

5

53.5kg

15

MALUCKYDAY (NZ)

9

53.5kg

16

MOURAYAN (IRE)

3

53.5kg

17

MY QUEST FOR PEACE (IRE)

1

53.5kg

18

NIWOT

15

53.5kg

19

TAC DE BOISTRON (FR)

21

53kg

20

LIGHTS OF HEAVEN (NZ)

17

53kg

21

PRECEDENCE (NZ)

20

53kg

22

UNUSUAL SUSPECT (USA)

23

53kg

23

ZABEELIONAIRE (NZ)

24

52kg

24

KELINNI (IRE)

10

51.5kg

The connections of Dunaden were unconcerned by barrier 16, only three gates wider than where jockey Christophe Lemaire piloted him from last year.

Craig Williams takes the ride this year after missing out in 2011 due to suspension.

"He's a held-up horse so it won't hinder him at all," said owner Sheikh Fahad Al Thani.

"I'm sure Craig will find a way to slot him in. I'm very happy with it."

Dunaden comes into the Cup after a dominant win in the Caulfield Cup and has the massive impost of 59 kilograms.

"It's no easy task," Sheikh Fahad said, "especially I think Red Cadeaux is more well in against us than last year. I fear him most.

"But I still think my horse is a champion, he has a champion jockey on him, and I wouldn't swap him for any other horse."

Gerry Ryan, co-owner of Americain, was also feeling bullish after the barrier draw and said the horse was in great shape.

His mood has been lifted further by the possibility of a soft track with rain forecast for Monday and Tuesday.

"Either way, the horse can run in any conditions, he proved that at Caulfield, so let's give it our best shot," he said.

"We might be favourite with the bookies, but there's a lot of competition and hopefully we've got the best horse on the day."

Ryan said he remained comfortable with the decision to replace French rider Gerald Mosse with Oliver for the Cup.

"I sent him an SMS and told him that I hope the Group Ones keep coming," Ryan said, in reference to Oliver's winning ride in the Victoria Derby earlier Saturday.

"This year's field is the best he's ever run in so we need to have every one per cent up our sleeve."

Cumani was delighted with the draw for Mount Athos, a three-time winner this year in England, but was concerned with barrier one for his other hope, My Quest For Peace.

"I'm a little bit less happy (with My Quest For Peace)," he said.

"One could make things a little bit tight for Corey (Brown), but it's still better than 20-plus."

South Australian Derby winner Zabeelionaire has the dubious honour of starting from the outside gate, and co-owner Brad Spicer took it on the chin.

"He'll stay out of trouble going to the first turn, that's for sure," he said.

"I'm never one to dwell on negatives, because we've got a runner in the Cup and it's a dream for all the owners to have him there."

Europeans miss out

A total of 40 horses were accepted for the Cup on Saturday afternoon, and the Victoria Racing Club chose not to exercise its discretion and promote a horse that was outside the top 24 in the order of entry.

Several highly fancied European runners missed out, including French stayer Brigantin, who boasts a victory over Dunaden, and last year's sixth placegetter Lost In The Moment from the powerful Godolphin Stable.

Kelinni, prepared by Sydney's champion trainer Chris Waller, forced his way into the field by winning the Lexus Stakes on Saturday.